Wheel-belt continuous casting machine

ABSTRACT

A wheel and belt continuous casting machine employing a thin casting rim with a pair of cooperating mold side members surrounding the thin rim and with a thin flexible belt partially encircling the wheel for defining a casting cavity and high velocity coolant flow against the thin rim and thin belt for intensive heat removal. The thin casting rim is a guided &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;floating&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; rim which together with the pair of guided &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;floating&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; unattached mold side members form three of the mold surfaces, with the partially encircling thin belt providing the fourth mold surface, and coolant is flowed longitudinally at high velocity along the concave inner face of the floating rim to directly cool this rim and indirectly to cool the side mold members and also high velocity coolant is applied to the thin belt. The coolant can be applied over part of the concave circumference of the thin floating rim or over the full concave circumference of the rim. The floating arrangement of the mold defining surface enables the thin casting rim and mold side members to maintain an accurate alignment without buckling while the high velocity coolant maintains the thin rim at substantially constant temperature. Thus, the thin floating casting rim, floating mold side members and encircling belt provide accurate mold surfaces in which thermal cycling is minimized and heat transfer at the mold surfaces can be appropriately controlled by coatings on the thin rim and thin belt, providing long life of the operating components and giving flexibility for casting different metals and different alloys. Resilient seals are located between the floating rim and the rotating wheel structure, and convenient changing of mold components, such as belt, floating rim and mold side members is achieved, and in addition the user can conveniently change one or both cross section dimensions of the mold cavity so that the most appropriate proportions and size of the continuously cast section can be selected.

United States Patent [1 1 Hazelett et al.

[ WHEEL-BELT CONTINUOUS CASTING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Robert William Hazelett; Richard Hazelett, both of Winooski; John Frederick Barry Wood, Burlington, all of Vt.

[731] Assignee: lla elett Strip-Casting Corporation,

Malletts Bay, Winooski, Vt.

[22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 231,128

[52] US. Cl. 164/278, 164/283 MT [51] Int. Cl B2211 11/06 [58] Field of Search 164/82, 87, 276, 164/278, 283 MT [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,041,686 7/1962 Hazelett et al 164/87 3,311,955 4/1967 Richards 164/278 3,411,565 11/1968 Properzi 164/276 3,536,126 10/1970 Lenaeus et a1... 164/278 3,537,506 11/1970 Griffiths 164/276 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,215,853 12/1970 Great Britain 164/283 Primary ExaminerR. Spencer Annear Att0rneyRoland T. Bryan et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A wheel and belt continuous casting machine employing a thin casting rim with a pair of cooperating mold side members surrounding the thin rim and with a thin flexible belt partially encircling the wheel for defining a casting cavity and high velocity coolant flow against the thin rim and thin belt for intensive heat removal. The thin casting rim is a guided floating rim which together with the pair of guided floating unattached mold side members form three of the mold surfaces, with the partially encircling thin belt providing the fourth mold surface, and coolant is flowed longitudinally at high velocity along the concave inner face of the floating rim to directly cool this rim and indirectly to cool the side mold members and also high velocity coolant is applied to the thin belt. The coolant can be applied over part of the concave circumference of the thin floating rim or over the full concave circumference of the rim. The floating arrangement of the mold defining surface enables the thin casting rim and mold side members to maintain an accurate alignment without buckling while the high velocity coolant maintains the thin rim at substantially constant temperature. Thus, the thin floating casting rim, floating mold side members and encircling belt provide accurate mold surfaces in which thermal cycling is minimized and heat transfer at the mold surfaces can be appropriately controlled by coatings on the thin rim and thin belt, providing long life of the operating components and giving flexibility for casting different metals and different alloys. Resilient seals are located between the floating rim and the rotating wheel structure, and convenient changing of mold components, such as belt, floating rim and mold side members is achieved, and in addition the user can conveniently change one or both cross section dimensions of the mold cavity so that the most appropriate proportions and size of the continuously cast section can be selected.

27 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJAH I 5374 SHEET 0F 9 1 WHEEL-BELT CONTINUOUS CASTING MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is in the field of continuously casting molten metals and alloys. In particular this invention lies in the field of casting machines of the wheel and belt type, in which a casting mold is provided between the rim of the rotating wheel and a flexible belt which travels partially around the circumference of the rim.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the prior art, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,067 issued to Properzi, are disclosed arrangements for cooling a casting wheel in a wheel-belt machine by flowing liquid coolant through a network of interconnecting passages within the wheel. Although this arrangement has been used for a number of casting machine installations, the wheel components are necessarily complex and expensive, and the cooling of the wheel is not completely uniform due to the varying wall thicknesses immediately adjacent to the liquid coolant passages. Because of the relatively thick metal sections involved in such prior art wheel structures, substantial temperature differentials occur therein between the surfaces near the molten metal and the surfaces near the water passages. Accordingly, such a prior art wheel acts partly as a heat sink in removing heat from the molten metal. In doing so, however, the wheel is subjected to severe thermal cycling during each rotation which causes eventual failure due to thermal fatigue and high surface temperatures.

In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,429,363; 3,474,853 and 3,533,463, which have issued to the inventors hereof, are disclosed and claimed, respectively, a method of cooling the casting belt, apparatus for cooling and supporting the casting belt, and a system for steering the casting belt in a continuous casting machine in the wheel-belt field.

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a wheel and belt continuous casting machine employing a floating thin castin g rim and two cooperating opposed floating side mold members surrounding the thin rim, all of which are guided and supported on the rotating wheel. In this novel machine a continuously moving mold space is defined between the periphery of a guided revolving floating thin casting rim, two side mold assemblies, and a thin belt which runs partially around the revolving rim and side mold assemblies. These side mold assemblies are a pair of spaced guided unattached members which run around the thin rim in a floating relationship therewith.

This invention also relates to apparatus for directly cooling the floating thin rim by high velocity coolant flow along its concave inner face and thereby indirectly cooling the two floating unattached side molds, as these revolving mold elements approach the effective mold region defined by contact with the belt and as these mold elements revolve with the belt to confine the molten metal in the moving mold space without leakage. The intense high velocity cooling of the concave face of the thin rim can be applied over that sector of the circumference where the rim is in the moving mold region adjacent to the metal being cast, or a greater extent of the thin rim can be intensely cooled. If desired, this cooling action can be applied for the full 360 circumference of this rim.

Advantageously, in accordance with the present invention, uniform cooling with high heat transfer capability is provided in conjunction with the inexpensive thin floating casting rim and floating side mold members serving as wheel mold components which can be conveniently replaced as required.

An additional advantage provided by wheel and belt casting machines embodying the invention is the ability to change one or both of the cross section dimensions of the mold cavity so that the most appropriate proportions and size for the continuously cast section can be conveniently selected.

Also, it is desirable in some installations to cast more than one size cross section from one casting machine to meet a predetermined production schedule. Where it is desired to conveniently and economically continuously cast a predetermined sequence of cast products with various cross section dimensions, the mold versatility provided by the present invention is especially advantageous.

When the features of the present invention are incorporated in machines having intense uniform cooling of and accurate tracking of thin metal belts as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,429,363; 3,474,853 and 3,533,463 there is achieved a symmetrical cooling of the cast section. It is our belief that such a symmetrical and uniform cooling has never been achieved before in a wheel and belt machine, and the resulting advantages include the symmetrically distributed properties which now can be achieved in the cast products made by wheel-belt machines embodying the present invention. Also, by virtue of the fact that the present invention provides symmetrical physical behavior of the two major opposed mold walls, namely the thin floating rim and the thin belt, similar surface coating techniques to increase or decrease the rate of heat transfer can be employed at the interfaces between the cast product and these two major mold surfaces. In this manner various different metallurgical effects can be obtained in casting different metals and alloys.

The guided floating thin rim, together with the guided floating side molds, the cooperating molten metal sealing arrangement and water sealing arrangement, and the intense uniform cooling provided in machines embodying this invention achieve moderate mold operating temperatures regardless of whether casting metals with low melting temperatures or with high melting temperatures. The intense cooling by high velocity coolant flow along the concave inner face of the thin rim and also high velocity coolant on the exterior face of the belt maintains the mold temperature near that of the coolant. Thus, this invention enables a wide range of metals to be cast. The rapid solidification rate and cooling rate can be used to accomplish fine grain cast structure of certain metals if this is desired. In addition, the intense cooling associated with substantial mold length provides exceptionally high production capacity when continuously casting a large number of molten materials.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wheelbelt casting machine in which uniform and symmetrical cooling of the two major opposed mold walls is provided. The uniformity and consistency of the cooling in machines embodying this invention provides uniform and consistent physical and metallurgical properties and consistent quality for a wide range of cast material. The repeatedly stable and moderate mold temperatures also permit casting exceptionally consistent cross section dimensions and provide consistent exit temperature of the cast material which are advantageous for subsequent processing, such as by rolling.

The guided floating thin rim in conjunction with other associated mold members of various designs form a number of alternative, inexpensive and reliable casting wheel mold assemblies. Also, these resulting wheel mold assemblies can be conveniently set to provide various widths of the mold cavity for casting various widths of product as may be called for by a production schedule.

The cast thickness as provided by these resulting mold assemblies can be conveniently and economically varied over a range as may be desired in meeting a production schedule.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel casting wheel structure providing numerous advantages as indicated above for use in wheel and belt casting machines radically improving the performance and reliability of these machines with the objective that their utilization and fields of application may become greatly widespread for continuous casting of various molten metals and alloys.

Summarizing the advantages of a wheel and belt machine embodying the present invention there are these, among others:

a. Symmetrical and consistent cooling of the cast section.

b. The mold surfaces adjacent to the mold cavity remain at a temperature near that of the liquid coolant to give a symmetrical fine grain structure in a cast bar.

c. The thin mold surfaces are guided floating elements which avoid buckling while affording a high heat transfer rate through themselves from the molten metal to the coolant.

d. The machine is suitable for casting aluminum, copper, steel, stainless steel and other metals and alloys.

e. A higher casting speed and a greater tonnage of cast product per hour than in previous wheel-belt machines.

f. The machine is adaptable to various mold cavity cross sectional sizes, configurations and proportions as may be desired for casting various products and for tailoring the cast product to meet various subsequent processing steps, such as rolling or drawing.

g. Inexpensive mold components can be employed.

h. The mold components are easily and conveniently changed.

i. The symmetrical and consistent cooling plus the high heat transfer rate and low mold temperatures enable the metal freezing rate to be controlled by appropriate mold surface coatings, thus yielding fast or slow freezing of the metal in the mold, as may be desired.

j. The machine is adaptable to open pool feeding or injection feeding of the molten metal as desired.

k. The machine frame is also adjustable to various casting angles to suit various metals and metal feeding conditions, but this adjustability of casting angle is not being claimed herein.

In this specification and in the accompanying drawings are described and shown a wheel and belt casting machine embodying the invention and various modified embodiments are described which provide effective, accurate, easily changed, uniformly cooled casting mold arrangements in a wheel and belt machine for casting metal, and it is to be understood that this description is given for purposes of setting forth the best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the manner of carrying out the invention in practical use and so that they will understand how to utilize equivalents of this apparatus as may be best suited to the conditions of various particular continuous casting installations.

The various features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view with portions broken away in section illustrating a casting machine ofthe wheel and belt type embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine in FIG. 1 as seen from the direction 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing the arrangement of the machine frame and casting belt.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the back of the machine, being a view as seen from the direction 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial elevational sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGS. 1 and 3, showing the coolant inlet, strainer and the coolant manifold associated with the axle mount for the wheel hub. FIG. 4 illustrates the coolant distribution ducts and shows the general arrangement of the thin rim spanned across between the wheel flanges and associated resilient seals on the wheel flanges.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational sectional view of the top portion of the machine as seen in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows how the high velocity coolant is applied to and removed from the concave inner face of the thin rim, and shows the coolant supply ducts connected to a revolving sealing gland positioned adjacent to the hub. FIG. 5 also shows the manner in which the molten metal is introduced when injection feeding is employed.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5 showing the wheel hub mounting arrangement and the rotating sealing gland structure for supplying liquid coolant from an axial duct incorporated in the hub mount into a plurality of conduits extending out toward the thin rim.

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5 to show the thin rim mounting, resilient guidance and resilient sealing arrangement which permits the rim to float" with respect to the two wheel flanges. FIG. 7 also shows the mold side members and the high velocity liquid coolant application arrangement for both the thin rim and thin belt.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 88 in FIG. 7 and showing further aspects of the intense high velocity cooling applied to the concave inner face of the revolving thin rim.

FIG. 9 is a further enlargement of the metal infeed portion of the machine as seen in FIG. 5. FIG. 9 shows the lateral guiding and hold-down mechanism and the entry shield for the mold side members, with portions shown in section.

FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view taken along the line 10l0 in FIG. 9 and showing further aspects of the mold side guiding and hold-down mechanism and the entry shield for the mold side members.

FIG. 11 is an elevational sectional view taken along the line 11l1 in FIG. 9 showing the relationship between the entry shield, mold side members, thin casting rim and casting belt near the metal infeed nip portion of the machine.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in FIG. 9 showing the lateral guide roller and hold-down machanism for the mold side members.

FIG. 13 shows the stripper or plow assembly and guide mechanism for the mold side members near the exit from the machine.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of FIG. 13 as seen looking from the right in FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 show various embodiments of the radially resilient guiding edge clamps for the thin floating rim.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a modified side mold member.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a wheel and belt continuous casting machine embodying this invention includes a frame base 20 with an upstanding frame 21 on which is rotatably mounted the casting wheel 22. A flexible casting belt 24 runs in an arcuate path around a substantial portion of the periphery of the revolving wheel 22 and is guided and supported by four pulley wheels 26, 27, 28 and 29. The pulley 26 is located at the infeed or entrance region E and is mounted on a pair of parallel arms 30 and 32 operated by a lever 34 (FIG. 3) and fluid cylinder mechanism 36 so that this pulley 26 can be lifted away from the perimeter of the wheel 22 for opening up the entrance E to the casting cavity, and for adjusting the position of the pulley to accommodate different thicknesses of product to be cast. Pulley 27 is the casting belt drive pulley, and it is driven by a motor 38 operating through a speed reducing gear box 40 connected to the shaft 42 of the drive pulley 27.

For adjustably tensioning the casting belt 24, the tensioning pulley 28 is mounted on a pair of parallel arms 44 and 46 actuated by a lever 48 and fluid cylinder mechanism 49. In order to steer the casting belt, the steering pulley 29 is spaced out away from the exit or delivery region D and is held by a yoke 50 mounted for swivel motion by a pair of yoke bearings 52 and 53. This yoke 50 is controlled by a lever 54 (FIG. 3) and a steering cylinder mechanism 55.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 3, the upstanding frame 21 has a generally semi-circular configuration and is mounted on a pair of saddle assemblies 56 and 57. Thus, the frame 21 can be positioned and secured in various angular positions with respect to the base 20 for adjusting the infeed pouring angle into the mold entrance E.

There is a large removable coolant splash shield 51 extending over most of the front of the machine as seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2. The purpose of this splash shield will be explained in detail later on.

As shown in FIG. 1 the molten material M is supplied from an insulated pouring container or tundish T and feeds through a nozzleN into the entrance E to the mold cavity, which will be described shortly. This machine is particularly adapted for continuously casting molten metal such as aluminum, copper, steel, stainless steel and other alloys of these metals. Other metals and alloys can also be continuously cast to advantage on this machine. The cast product P (FIG. 3) exits from the delivery region D which is generally on the opposite side of the wheel from the entrance E and is lead out from the machine into subsequent processing equipment such as (not shown) a rolling line and coiler.

In order to define an advantageous casting cavity C (FIGS. 4,7 and 8) for casting the molten material M (FIG. 1) the wheel 22 is constructed with a pair of spaced circumferential flanges 58 and 59 having the same diameter and a thin casting rim 60 spans across the perimeters of these spaced flanges. This rim is in floating relationship with respect to the flanges 58 and 59, i.e., this rim is assembled axially onto the two flanges with a small circumferential clearance between the rim and flanges. The sides of the mold cavity C are provided by a pair of mold side members 61 and 62 which are assembled axially in surrounding relationship around the thin rim 60. These mold side members are in floating relationship around the rim and are laterally guided by means to be described further below. As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible casting belt 24 defines the fourth surface of the mold cavity C by spanning across the outer circumference of the mold side members 61 and 62.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8, the thin casting rim 60 and belt 24 define the two opposed major mold surfaces, and this rim and belt are intensely cooled by high velocity flows of coolant to be described later on. The rim and belt are formed of strong, tough heat-conducting material, such as mild steel, and they are of approximately equal thickness. Both are quite thin in view of the fact that they serve to constrain molten metal as it solidifies. In this presently preferred embodiment both the rim 60, which has a diameter of approximately 7 feet, and the belt 24 have a thickness in the range from 0.025 to 0.075 of an inch. As shown, the rim 60 is approximately 0.060 of an inch thick. The belt 24 may be made somewhat thinner than the rim 60 because the belt must flex around the pulleys 26-29. The mold side members 61 and 62 are also made of heat conducting material and they are indirectly cooled by conduction through the rim and belt.

The size and proportions of the product P (FIG. 13) to be cast in the cavity C can be conveniently changed. By removing the mold side members 61 and 62 (FIGS. 4 and 7) and replacing them with thicker or thinner side members the thickness of the product is correspondingly increased or decreased. To accommodate the resultant changes in spacing between the belt 24 and thin rim 60, produced by changing the thickness of the side mold members 61 and 62, the entrance pulley 26 is adjusted in position by its positioning mechanism previously described, and the tensioning pulley 28 is adjusted in position to accommodate the effective change in the arcuate path length travelled by the casting belt due to the change in radius of this arcuate path.

By moving the mold side members 61 and 62 closer together or farther apart, the width of the casting cavity C is adjusted for correspondingly changing the width of the cast product P.

The edge portions 60-1 and 60-2 (FIG. 7) of the thin floating rim 60 are guided laterally on the flanges 58 and 59 of the revolving wheel 22 by a plurality of radially flexible clamps 64-1 and 64-2 mounted on the wheel. One of these radially flexible clamps 64-1 for the outboard belt edge is shown in greater detail in FIG. 15. It includes a mounting block 65 which is secured as by screws 66 to a projecting cylindrical skirt member 67-1 held in position by mounting means 68 removably attached by screws 69 to the outside of the wheel flange 58. A radially flexible finger 70 has an end hook 71 loosely hooking around the rim edge 60-1 so as to provide radial clearance for the rim as seen in FIG. 15. The resilient finger 70 has a right angle bend to form a downwardly extending end 72 which is secured as by brazing to the inside surface of the mounting block 65. Thus the finger 70 and its hooked end 71 are free to spring outwardly radially away from the mounting block 65 in response to floating movement of the thin rim 60.

FIGS. 16 and 17 shows alternative embodiments of radially flexible rim edge clamps 64-1A and 63-18 for the outboard rim edge. In the clamp in FIG. 16, the inner end of the resilient finger 70 is brazed to the top of a narrow mounting block 65. In the clamp 64-1B shown in FIG. 17, the downwardly extending end 72 is brazed to the outboard side of the mounting block 65. A clamp such as shown in FIG. 17 can be used when more radial resilience is desired. There are approximately a dozen of the outboard edge clamps 64-1 (or 64-1A or 64-1B) uniformly spaced around the circumference of the wheel 22 and a similar number of the inboard edge clamps which are the mirror image of the respective outboard clamps.

As seen in FIG. 7 the inboard side of the wheel 22 near its perimeter is generally the mirror image of the outboard side, including a projecting cylindrical skirt member 67-2 held by mounting means 68 and screws 69.

To preclude the liquid coolant applied to the inner rim surface from leakage out toward the outer edges 60-1 and 60-2 of the rim, especially in the non-mold region of the wheel circumference where the rim is intentionally permitted to expand away to a moderate amount from the peripheries of the wheel flanges 58 and 59, an expandible resiliant sealing arrangement 74-1 and 74-2 is provided near the interface between the peripheries of the flanges 58 and 59, respectively and the rim inner surface. These expandible resilient sealing means 74-1 and 74-2 each include an inflatible tubular seal 75, as seen most clearly in FIG. 15, which nests between the adjacent wheel flange 58 and the plurality of circumferentially spaced edge clamps 64-1. There are valves 7 (FIG. for inflating or deflating the expansible tubes 75.

These expandible seals are collapsed to facilitate changing of the thin rim 60 and mold side members 61 and 62 and are re-expanded to seal against egress ofliquid coolant during caster operation.

As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, the two mold side members 61 and 62 are laterally guided and pressed down onto the thin rim in intimate contact therewith ahead of the mold entrance E by means ofa roller guide assembly 77. In the vicinity of the casting cavity C the action of the belt tension presses the mold side members 61 and 62 tightly against the thin rim 60 which in turn seats against the peripheries of wheel flanges 58 and 59. In this manner the mold side members 61 and 62 are held against lateral displacement through the extent of the casting mold region. In effect the guide mechanism 77 starts these mold side members 61 and 62 on the appropriate guide lines. This guide assembly 77 includes four flanged rollers 78 having internal anti-friction bearings (not shown) and being mounted on blocks 79 secured to a chassis. This chassis comprises side straps 80-1 and 80-2 held by a rigid cross brace 81. A protective cover 82 extends over the whole chassis and rollers beneath the tundish T, as seen in FIG. 9.

In order to hold the roller guide assembly 77 in position, there is a hold-down assembly 84 which is mounted on two heavy brackets 85-1 and 85-2. These brackets 85-1 and 85-2 are pivotably attached at 86 to the respective pulley arms 30 and 32. A locking screw 87 fitting in an arcuate slot 88 provides for adjustment of the hold down assembly 84. This hold down assembly 84 serves also to apply a general downward pressure onto the mold side members 61 and 62 and onto the thin rim 60 and correspondingly onto the peripheries of the wheel flanges 58 and 59 thus assuring proper mating of the mold components 60, 61 and 62 at the mold entrance E.

The hold down assembly 84 includes two spaced legs 89-1 and 89-2 which straddle an opening 90 for allowing introduction of the nozzle N into the mold entrance E. These spaced legs 89-1, 89-2 are bent down (as seen in FIG. 11) closely over the mold side members 61 and 62 to shield them from the heat. The side strap elements 80-1 and 80-2 extend on either side of the mold entrance E to carry a pair of lateral guide bars 92-1 and 92-2 (FIGS. 9 and 11) for accurately laterally guiding and spacing the mold side members 61 and 62 at the entrance region E.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 a plow or stripper 94 pivotally mounted on a shaft 95 fixed to frame 21 cooperates with a roller guide assembly 96 having flanged rollers 78. A resilient plate 97 held by a mounting block 98 connects the roller guide assembly 96 to the plow 94 so that the stripping noze 99 of the plow applies a moderate pressure against the casting face of the thin rim 60. This casting face F of the thin rim may include a coating layer to control the rate of heat transfer, and the pressure of the nose 99 against the rim surface F is minimized to avoid scraping off such a coating. The two opposed mold surfaces 101 and 102 (FIG. 7) of the side members 61 and 62 slope slightly to diverge outwardly at a small angle to the radius as seen in FIGS. 7 and 15 to facilitate removal of the cast product P. As indicated in dashed outline at 94 (FIG. 13) the plow can be mounted in alternative positions, as may be desired.

These side mold members 61 and 62 are large diameter endless rings, for example of forged steel which has been normalized and tempered. These members 61 and 62 have an axial length (width) of approximately one and one-half inches as seen in FIG. 15 which is approximately full size. FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment in which the outboard mold side member 61A has a multitude of deep slots 103 cut into its outer edge to a distance of more than one-half its axial length (width W). For stress relief, the bottom of each slot 103 may be drilled to form an enlarged circular termination 104 for each slot. The slots are uniformly spaced by a distance S, which is approximately equal to the width W of the member 61A. Such a slotted mold side member has greater flexibility which facilitates steering. The inboard mold member is the mirror image of that shown in FIG. 18.

It is noted that a plurality of guide clamps may be provided on the casting wheel 22 for guiding the mold side members 61. As indicated dashed in FIG. 15 such a mold side guide clamp 106 can be mounted on the outer circumference of the cylindrical skirt 61 in the region near the block 65 and can extend radially out and axially over so as to engage against the outer surface 107 of the mold side member 61.

In order to cool the casting belt 24, there are coolant feed tubes 110 (FIG. 5) nesting in circumferential grooves 111 in the entrance pulley 26. There are also a plurality of coolant nozzle header units 112 (FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 8) extending along an are (as seen in FIG. 1) near the inboard edge of the belt 24 (as seen in FIGS. 4 and 7). Each of these nozzle units 112 includes multiple nozzle orifices 113 (FIGS. 7 and 8) aimed at a slight angle toward the convex outer surface of the belt to create a layer of coolant 114 travelling at high velocity transversely across the belt for intensely cooling the belt. Such a coolant arrangement for a casting belt as described in this paragraph is described in detail and claimed in above-identified US. Pat. Nos. 3,429,363 and 3,474,853.

It is novel to supply the coolant to the nozzle units 112 as shown in FIG. 4 from a large cylindrical main supply header 116 axially aligned with a hollow axle mount 118 for the hub 120 of the wheel 22. The coolant, which is usually water containing a corrosion inhibitor, is supplied under pressure from a powerful high flow capacity pump (not shown) connected to a coolant inlet 122 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

In order to preclude possible plugging or restriction of the liquid coolant flow through the nozzles by foreign material being introduced simultaneously with the supply of the liquid coolant at least one tapered strainer 124 (FIG. 4) of generous surface area is inserted into the main liquid supply header. The openings or perfo rations in the strainer media 125 are intentionally smaller than the diameter of the various nozzle orifices. This strainer is removable and is attached by a central rod 126 to a removable cover 127 on the coolant inlet 122. The coolant feeds from the axial header 116 out through a plurality of ports 128 (FIG. 4) and through generally radial conduits 129 connected to the respective nozzle units 112. To provide an intense uniform cooling of the inner circumference of the casting rim 60 as shown in FIG. 8 a high velocity layer 130 ofliquid coolant is introduced onto the inner surface of the rim by a plurality of revolving coolant application nozzle means 132 which are mounted within the wheel 22 and revolve with the wheel.

The high velocity coolant layer 130 in FIGS. 5 and 8 is shown rapidly traveling circumferentially around the inner rim surface in a counterclockwise direction in the same direction as the rim 60 is revolving. It is to be understood that the coolant layer 130 is moving many times faster than the rim, and it can be applied in the same direction as the wheel rotation or in the opposite direction by the revolving nozzle means 132 which are uniformly spaced circumferentially within the wheel 22. As seen most clearly in FIG. 7, the two wheel flanges 58 and 59 are formed by large flat rings which create a pair of spaced parallel side walls extending around the wheel. The nozzle means 132 are secured in position between the wheel side walls 108 and 109 by machine screws 133.

The multiple coolant application nozzle means 132 serve periodically to apply additional high velocity coolant for assuring that a high velocity coolant layer 130 is maintained along the inner circumference of the rim 60 throughout the full arcuate extent of the mold cavity C, or for any other arcuate extent of the rim, as explained below. Associated with each nozzle means 132 is a scoop 134 extending axially across the wheel for intercepting the portion of the coolant layer 130 which is farthest from the inner surface of the rim 60. This intercepted portion of the coolant layer is diverted to shoot radially inwardly as indicated by arrows 135 along the scoop face 136. The diverted coolant 135 thereafter passes as indicated by arrows 137 into the respective coolant discharge gutters 138 which have a generally spiral cross sectional pattern for receiving the high speed coolant and redirecting it in an axial outboard direction.

These gutters 138 (FIG. 5) extend in an outboard direction through respective ports 139 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in the side wall 108 of the flange portion 58 of the wheel. Thus, the spent coolant is discharged from the outboard ends of the gutters 138 where it is caught by the splash shield collector 51 to be returned to a large coolant supply reservoir (not shown).

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 the leading edge of each scoop 134 extends for substantially the full axial width of the thin rim 60 and this scoop edge is spaced a uniform distance from the inner surface of the rim. For example, in this embodiment of the invention, the spacing between the inner surface of the rim and the scoop leading edge is three-sixteenths of an inch.

It is to be noted (FIG. 8) that the surface 140 of each scoop unit near to the rim is oriented at a slight converging angle with respect to the inner rim surface. Thus, a converging tapered space 140 is created which narrows from three-sixteenths to about three thirtyseconds of an inch as seen in FIG. 7. It has been found that the high velocity coolant layer 130 may be aerated to a small extent and that a converging path 140 for the coolant between the scoop surface and the rim surface improves the performance of the high speed film of coolant immediately adjacent to the inner surface of the rim.

After a portion 135 of the coolant layer has been scooped off and after the remaining coolant film has passed through the converging de-aeration channel 140, the coolant layer 130 is reaccelerated and built up to its previous thickness by the next nozzle means 132 in sequence. The nozzle means 132 each include a nozzle unit 142 associated with each scoop 134 and extending substantially the full axial width of the wheel between its side walls 108 and 109, as seen in FIG. 7. There are multiple nozzle orifices 143 in each unit 142 which serve to apply the coolant at high velocity to the inner circumference of the rim 60. In this embodiment the coolant streams 144 issuing from the orifices 143 travel along the curved surface 145 to spread out and impinge at a slight angle toward the inner circumference of the rim for creating and maintaining the high velocity layer 130. The nozzle units 142 each have a main passage 146 (FIG. 8) communicating with the orifices 143. Conduits 147 formed by flexible high pressure hoses extend generally radially out to feed coolant into each nozzle unit 142 as seen in FIGS. 5 and 8.

In this manner a high velocity coolant layer 130 travels circumferentially along the inner face of the rim 60 to provide an intense cooling action thereto. The cooling action on the rim 60 and belt 24 is so intense that the mold components 60, 24, 61, 62 remain at temperatures close to the temperature of the coolant itself to provide several advantages as outlined in the introductory portion of this specification.

If desired coatings can be applied to the casting face F of the rim 60 and to the inner surface of the belt 24 to slow down the cooling rate applied to the metal being cast. By virtue of the fact that the mold components 60, 61, 62 and 24 remain at substantially uniform temperatures and at low temperatures, the control action provided by such coatings is predictably uniform and effective in producing desired metallurgical properties in the cast product P (FIG. 13).

In order to supply liquid coolant under high pressure to each of the nozzle means 132, there is a revolving liquid distribution system 150 (FIGS. 4, and 6) associated with the hub 120. This hub is mounted upon anti-friction bearings 151 and 152 seated upon the hollow axle 118. An axial duct 153 in the axle communicates through a port 154 in the frame 21 with the front end of the main axial supply duct 116. As seen in FIG. 6, the axle 118 has a heavy mounting flange 155 which is secured to the frame 21 about the coolant supply port 154.

The liquid distribution system 150 includes a stationary inner gland member 156 (FIG. 6) which is fastened by machine screws 149 to the outboard end of the axle 118. This inner gland member 156 has an axial duct 157 which is the same size as and is aligned with the axle duct 153. A barrier disc 158 is welded across the outboard end of the duct 157 and is covered by an end cap 159. For feeding the coolant there are multiple large radial ports 160 providing communication between the duct 157 and a liquid distribution channel 161 in the perimeter of the inner gland member 156.

Surrounding the inner gland member 156 is an outer rotatable gland member 162 attached to the hub 120. In order to provide a rotating liquid-tight seal between the inner and outer gland members, there are a plurality of grooves in the perimeter of the inner gland member located both inboard and outboard of the channel 161 with o-rings 163 in these grooves. The outer gland member 162 is attached to the hub 120 by machine screws (not shown) engaging in a ring mount 165 on the outboard end of the hub. There is also a rotating seal element 166 seated in a ring 167 on the hub. This sealing element 166 engages against the periphery of the inboard end of the inner gland member 156 near the bearing 151 to protect the bearing.

The outer gland member 162 includes a large number of generally radial passages 168 communicating with the liquid distribution channel 161. Into these passages 168 are threaded hose connections 169 for feeding coolant into the inner ends of the hose conduits 147 extending out to all of the nozzle means 132. As shown in FIG. 6 these passages 168 may have their outer ends angled in the inboard direction to provide the most direct flow path toward the rim of the wheel.

If it is desired to cool the entire inner circumference ofthe rim 60, then the coolant distribution channel 161 is left open around the entire perimeter of the inner gland member 156.

If it is desired to apply high velocity coolant 130 (FIG. 8) only to that portion of the rim 60 lying within a predetermined angular cooling segment or cooling zone, then a coolant zone control element 170 (FIGS. 5 and 6) can be inserted into the channel 161 for blocking access to those pasages 168 which connect to the nozzle means 132 which are momentarily located in the uncooled zone as the wheel 22 rotates. The coolant zone control element 170 is fastened stationary in the channel 161 in the inner gland member. Thus, as the outer gland member 162 revolves about the inner gland member as the wheel turns, the coolant is fed into the successive unblocked passages 168 for part of each cycle of rotation and is shut off from the successive blocked passages 168 for the remainder of each cycle of rotation. In the set up as shown in FIG. 5, the coolant application zone extends for the entire circumferential length of the casting region C and commences at a point near where the roller guide assembly 77 is located. Consequently the rim 60 is intensely cooled by a high-velocity layer (FIG. 8) before and during the time when it is adjacent the metal being cast.

Other control elements of different angular extent can be used for increasing or decreasing the angular spread of the rim cooling zone. The zone control element 170 is a ring with the desired predetermined angular extent cut away, as seen in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the side walls 108 and 109 of the flanges 58 and 59 are interconnected by spoke webs 172. These spoke webs 172 are joined (see FIG. 5) at their inner ends to a large cylindrical hub ring 173 having an interior shoulder 174 which is removably bolted (please see FIG. 6) onto an exterior shoulder 175 on the hub 120. A large circular plate 176 (FIG. 6 and 7) covers the inboard side of the wheel. The spoke webs 172 are uniformly spaced, and there are two radial conduits 147 extending out in the wheel between each successive pair of these spokes with two nozzle means 132 and gutters 138 being located between the outer ends of successive pairs of the spokes. In FIG. 5, the outer ends of each of the spoke webs 172 terminate at radial locations 177 which are spaced inwardly from the rim 60 to provide large clearance spaces outside of the end 177 of each spoke for the coolant layer 130 (FIG. 8) to pass through as it travels along the inner circumference of the rim 60. As seen most clearly in FIG. 15, each flange 58 (and 59) on the wheel has a flat cylindrical periphery 178 such that the thin cylindrical rim 60 can seat squarely against this periphery in the zone extending along near the casting region C.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the wheel and belt machine of the present invention described above is well suited to provide the advantages set forth and since various embodiments may be made of the features of this invention and as the apparatus herein described may be varied in various parts all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein before set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense and that in certain instances some of the features of the invention may be used without a corresponding use of other features all without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed herein.

We claim:

1. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving mold defined between the rotating wheel and a moving endless flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form a mold region, the casting wheel apparatus comprising:

a wheel having a pair of axially spaced flanges,

a thin cylindrical casting rim of heat conducting material removably surrounding said flanges and spanning across the space in the wheel between said flanges,

cooling means in the wheel for applying liquid coolant to the inner surface of said thin rim between said flanges, and v removable side mold members encircling said thin rim adapted to be positioned between said rim and the belt which travels partially around the wheel for defining a mold cavity in the mold region.

2. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 1, the casting apparatus wherein:

said thin casting rim is slightly larger in diameter than said flanges for facilitating axial assembly of said rim onto said flanges, and

resilient sealing means are provided in the wheel engaging said thin rim to preclude the escape ofliquid coolant.

3. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 2, the casting apparatus wherein:

said resilient sealing means are inflated and are adapted to be deflated for facilitating disassembly of the rim from the wheel.

4. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 1, the casting apparatus wherein:

said thin rim is in floating relationship with respect to the peripheries of said flanges and is permitted to expand slightly away from said flanges in a nonmold region as the wheel rotates.

5. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 4, the casting apparatus wherein:

radially flexible lateral guiding means are provided in the wheel engaging opposite edges of the thin rim for restraining lateral movement of the rim while permitting expansion of the thin rim away from said flanges.

6. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 5, the casting apparatus wherein:

said radially flexible lateral guiding means comprise a plurality of clamps circumferentially spaced around the wheel for engaging both edges of the thin rim, and

each of said clamps has a hook end portion hooking over the edge of the thin rim and a radially flexible element extending in an axial direction to said hook end portion.

7. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 1, the casting apparatus wherein:

first and second guide means are provided engaging said removable side mold members,

said first guide means are positioned to engage said side mold members ahead of the entrance to the casting cavity, and

said second guide means are positioned to engage said side mold members after the belt has separated from the wheel at the delivery end of the casting said slots have circular enlargements at their inner ends. 10. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 1, the casting apparatus in which:

said cooling means includes a plurality of coolant nozzle means positioned in the wheel near the inner circumference of the rim for applying a layer of coolant travelling along the inner surface of the thin rim between said flanges, and

a revolving liquid coolant distribution system in the wheel connected to the respective nozzle means.

111. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 10, the casting apparatus in which:

a plurality of scoops are positioned between said flanges near the inner face of said thin rim, said scoops extending axially across the width ofthe rim between said flanges and uniformly spaced from the inner face for diverting a portion of the coolant from the layer of coolant, and

coolant discharge gutters are associated with said scoops for discharging the diverted coolant in an axial direction outboard from the revolving wheel.

12. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 10, the casting apparatus in which:

said revolving liquid coolant distribution system includes a stationary inner sealing gland and an outer sealing gland rotatable about said inner gland, duct means for feeding coolant under pressure to said inner gland said outer gland being connected to the wheel for rotation therewith,

said outer gland having a plurality of passages therein spaced circumferentially about said outer gland and communicating with the inner gland for receiving the coolant therefrom, and

conduit means connecting respective passages to respective coolant nozzle means,

13. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 12, the casting apparatus in which:

a stationary coolant zone control element is positionable adjacent to said outer gland for blocking off selected passages in sequence as the wheel rotates for limiting the cooling of the thin rim to a predetermined arcuate zone thereof as may be desired.

14. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving mold defined between the rotating wheel and a moving flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form a mold region extending part way around the wheel, the casting apparatus comprising:

a thin rim encircling the wheel,

resilient mounting means positioned between the wheel and said thien rim, and

cooling means in the wheel for applying liquid coolant to the inner circumference of said thin rim,

said resilient mounting means including a pair of axially spaced radially expansible members extending around the wheel for engaging the inner circumference of said thin rim near the opposite edge portions thereof.

15. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 14, the casting apparatus in which:

said radially expansible members are tubular, and

valve means are provided for enabling inflation and deflation thereof.

16. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving mold defined between the rotating wheel and a moving flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form a mold region extending part way around the wheel, the casting apparatus comprising:

a thin rim encircling the wheel,

resilient mounting means positioned between the wheel and said thin rim, and

cooling means in the wheel for applying liquid coolant to the inner circumference of said thin rim,

said resilient mounting means including a plurality of radially flexible rim guiding clamps mounted to revolve with the wheel and engaging the edges of the thin rim for laterally guiding the rim while permitting limited radial movement of the rim with respect to the wheel.

17. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 14, the casting apparatus in which:

said cooling means include a plurality of nozzle means spaced circumferentially about the wheel and positioned near the inner surface of said thin rim for applying a high velocity layer of coolant travelling circumferentially along the inner surface of said rim in a region between said axially spaced radially expansible members.

18. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving mold formed between the rotating wheel and a moving flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form the mold region extending part way around the wheel, the casting apparatus comprising:

a thin cylindrical metal rim preferably having a thickness between 0.025 and 0.075 of an inch encircling the wheel and being slightly larger in diameter than the wheel for permitting axial assembly and disassembly of the rim onto the wheel,

a pair of side mold members encircling the thin rim and having a diameter slightly larger than the rim for permitting axial assembly and disassembly of said members onto the rim,

guide means for laterally guiding said side mold members and said thin rim, and

cooling means in the wheel for intensely cooling the inner face of said thin rim.

19. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 18, the casting apparatus in which:

a pair of spaced flanges are provided on the wheel defining clearance space between said flanges and adjacent to the inner circumference of said thin rim, and

said cooling means applies liquid coolant to the inner circumference of said thin film for travelling the coolant in a circumferential direction along the inner face of the thin rim through such clearance space.

20. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 19, the casting apparatus in which:

said cooling means includes a plurality of nozzle means spaced circumferentially around the wheel near the inner surface of the rim,

and coolant zone control means for cyclically blocking the coolant flow to selected nozzle means for limiting the application of coolant to a predetermined arcuate extent of the inner surface of the rim.

2]. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving cavity formed between the wheel and the moving flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form the mold cavity, the casting apparatus comprising:

a wheel having a pair of axially spaced flanges of equal diameter and each having a flat cylindrical periphery,

a thin cylindrical rim having an axial width greater than the axial spacing between said flanges,

said rim encircling said flanges spanning across between said flanges and having its opposite edge portions extending out in an axial direction beyond the respective flanges,

radially expansible sealing means positioned in the wheel outside of said flanges for engaging the inner surface of the axially extending edge portions of said rim, and

a plurality of nozzle means in the wheel positioned between said flanges and spaced circumferentially around the wheel for applying coolant to form a layer travelling along the inner surface of the rim between said flanges.

22. In a wheel and belt casting machine for casting molten metal apparatus comprising:

a thin heat conducting rim on the wheel,

mounting means for removably mounting said rim on the wheel,

a plurality of nozzle means mounted in the wheel to revolve with the wheel and being positioned near the inner circumference of the rim, said nozzle means being spaced circumferentially about the wheel for applying coolant to the inner circumference of the rim traveling circumferentially along said inner circumference,

coolant distribution system in the wheel for feeding liquid coolant under pressure to said nozzle means,

a pair of spaced side mold members encircling said thin rim,

a first lateral guide means engaging said side mold members for guiding them into position before the belt engages the wheel,

second lateral guid means engaging said side mold members after the belt separates from the wheel, said second guide means being associated with a stripper positioned to engage the rim between said side mold members, said second lateral guide means and said stripper being adjustable about a shaft, and

resilient means interconnecting said second guide means and said stripper for lightly urging said stripper toward said rim.

23. In a wheel and belt casting machine for casting molten metal, apparatus comprising:

a thin cylindrical rim encircling the wheel,

mounting means for removably mounting said rim on the wheel,

a pair of removable axially spaced side mold members encircling said rim,

lateral guide means for guiding said side mold members as the wheel rotates, and

coolant means for cooling the inner concave face of the rim.

24. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 7, the casting apparatus wherein:

each of said removable side mold members is a segmented endless ring assembly formed by a multiplicity of closely fitting curved side mold blocks strung tightly on a looped metal strap or cable.

25. ln a metal casting machine for continuously casting molten metal adjacent to a moving casting belt, apparatus in which:

a plurality of coolant application and scoop means are used for applying and maintaining a coolant layer travelling along the back surface of a casting belt,

said coolant application and scoop means include leading edges of the scoops spaced from the back surface of the casting belt a small distance for intercepting and deflecting a part of the high velocity coolant layer from the casting belt,

said coolant application and scoop means are spaced away from the back surface of the casting belt a back surface of the belt in the direction of travel of the coolant for providing converging de-aeration channels between each of said coolant application and scoop means and said back surface of the belt for de-aeration of the coolant passing through said converging channels.

26. In a metal casting machine for continuously casting molten metal adjacent to a moving casting belt, apparatus as claimed in claim 25, in which: i

said converging de-aeration channels converge toward the back surface of the belt from a spacing of approximately three-sixteenths of an inch to approximately three thirty-seconds of an inch.

27. In a wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in small distance for allowing the remaining coolant claim 21, the casting apparatus in which:

in the coolant layer to pass between said coolant application and scoop means and said back surface of the belt, and

the portions of each of said coolant application and scoop means behind said leading edge and near said back surface of thebelt converge toward said from the respective flanges. 

1. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving mold defined between the rotating wheel and a moving endless flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form a mold region, the casting wheel apparatus comprising: a wheel having a pair of axially spaced flanges, a thin cylindrical casting rim of heat conducting material removably surrounding said flanges and spanning across the space in the wheel between said flanges, cOoling means in the wheel for applying liquid coolant to the inner surface of said thin rim between said flanges, and removable side mold members encircling said thin rim adapted to be positioned between said rim and the belt which travels partially around the wheel for defining a mold cavity in the mold region.
 2. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 1, the casting apparatus wherein: said thin casting rim is slightly larger in diameter than said flanges for facilitating axial assembly of said rim onto said flanges, and resilient sealing means are provided in the wheel engaging said thin rim to preclude the escape of liquid coolant.
 3. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 2, the casting apparatus wherein: said resilient sealing means are inflated and are adapted to be deflated for facilitating disassembly of the rim from the wheel.
 4. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 1, the casting apparatus wherein: said thin rim is in floating relationship with respect to the peripheries of said flanges and is permitted to expand slightly away from said flanges in a non-mold region as the wheel rotates.
 5. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 4, the casting apparatus wherein: radially flexible lateral guiding means are provided in the wheel engaging opposite edges of the thin rim for restraining lateral movement of the rim while permitting expansion of the thin rim away from said flanges.
 6. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 5, the casting apparatus wherein: said radially flexible lateral guiding means comprise a plurality of clamps circumferentially spaced around the wheel for engaging both edges of the thin rim, and each of said clamps has a hook end portion hooking over the edge of the thin rim and a radially flexible element extending in an axial direction to said hook end portion.
 7. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 1, the casting apparatus wherein: first and second guide means are provided engaging said removable side mold members, said first guide means are positioned to engage said side mold members ahead of the entrance to the casting cavity, and said second guide means are positioned to engage said side mold members after the belt has separated from the wheel at the delivery end of the casting cavity.
 8. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 7, the casting apparatus wherein: said removable side mold members are a pair of large endless rings encircling said thin rim and having a multiplicity of slots cut into their outside axial edges.
 9. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 8, the casting apparatus wherein: said slots have circular enlargements at their inner ends.
 10. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 1, the casting apparatus in which: said cooling means includes a plurality of coolant nozzle means positioned in the wheel near the inner circumference of the rim for applying a layer of coolant travelling along the inner surface of the thin rim between said flanges, and a revolving liquid coolant distribution system in the wheel connected to the respective nozzle means.
 11. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 10, the casting apparatus in which: a plurality of scoops are positioned between said flanges near the inner face of said thin rim, said scoops extending axially across the width of the rim between said flanges and uniformly spaced from the inner face for diverting a portion of the coolant from the layer of coolant, and coolant discharge gutters are associated with said scoops for discharging the diverted coolant in an axial direction outboard from the revolving wheel.
 12. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 10, the casting apparatus in which: said revolving liquid coolant distribution system includes a stationary inner sealing gland and an outer sealing gland rotatable about said inner gland, duct means for feeding coolant under pressure to said inner gland said outer gland being connected to the wheel for rotation therewith, said outer gland having a plurality of passages therein spaced circumferentially about said outer gland and communicating with the inner gland for receiving the coolant therefrom, and conduit means connecting respective passages to respective coolant nozzle means.
 13. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 12, the casting apparatus in which: a stationary coolant zone control element is positionable adjacent to said outer gland for blocking off selected passages in sequence as the wheel rotates for limiting the cooling of the thin rim to a predetermined arcuate zone thereof as may be desired.
 14. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving mold defined between the rotating wheel and a moving flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form a mold region extending part way around the wheel, the casting apparatus comprising: a thin rim encircling the wheel, resilient mounting means positioned between the wheel and said thien rim, and cooling means in the wheel for applying liquid coolant to the inner circumference of said thin rim, said resilient mounting means including a pair of axially spaced radially expansible members extending around the wheel for engaging the inner circumference of said thin rim near the opposite edge portions thereof.
 15. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 14, the casting apparatus in which: said radially expansible members are tubular, and valve means are provided for enabling inflation and deflation thereof.
 16. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving mold defined between the rotating wheel and a moving flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form a mold region extending part way around the wheel, the casting apparatus comprising: a thin rim encircling the wheel, resilient mounting means positioned between the wheel and said thin rim, and cooling means in the wheel for applying liquid coolant to the inner circumference of said thin rim, said resilient mounting means including a plurality of radially flexible rim guiding clamps mounted to revolve with the wheel and engaging the edges of the thin rim for laterally guiding the rim while permitting limited radial movement of the rim with respect to the wheel.
 17. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 14, the casting apparatus in which: said cooling means include a plurality of nozzle means spaced circumferentially about the wheel and positioned near the inner surface of said thin rim for applying a high velocity layer of coolant travelling circumferentially along the inner surface of said rim in a region between said axially spaced radially expansible members.
 18. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving mold formed between the rotating wheel and a moving flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form the mold region extending part way around the wheel, the casting apparatus comprising: a thin cylindrical metal rim preferably having a thickness between 0.025 and 0.075 of an inch encircling the wheel and being slightly larger in diameter than the wheel for permitting axial assembly and disassembly of the rim onto the wheel, a pair of side mold members encircling the thin rim and having a diameter slightly larger than the rim for permitting axial assembly and disassembly of said members onto the rim, guide means for laterally guiding said side mold members and said thin rim, and cooling means in the wheel for intensely cooling the inner face of said thin rim.
 19. In the wheel and Belt casting machine as claimed in claim 18, the casting apparatus in which: a pair of spaced flanges are provided on the wheel defining clearance space between said flanges and adjacent to the inner circumference of said thin rim, and said cooling means applies liquid coolant to the inner circumference of said thin film for travelling the coolant in a circumferential direction along the inner face of the thin rim through such clearance space.
 20. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 19, the casting apparatus in which: said cooling means includes a plurality of nozzle means spaced circumferentially around the wheel near the inner surface of the rim, and coolant zone control means for cyclically blocking the coolant flow to selected nozzle means for limiting the application of coolant to a predetermined arcuate extent of the inner surface of the rim.
 21. In a wheel and belt casting machine wherein the molten metal is confined in a continuously moving cavity formed between the wheel and the moving flexible belt which travels partially around the wheel to form the mold cavity, the casting apparatus comprising: a wheel having a pair of axially spaced flanges of equal diameter and each having a flat cylindrical periphery, a thin cylindrical rim having an axial width greater than the axial spacing between said flanges, said rim encircling said flanges spanning across between said flanges and having its opposite edge portions extending out in an axial direction beyond the respective flanges, radially expansible sealing means positioned in the wheel outside of said flanges for engaging the inner surface of the axially extending edge portions of said rim, and a plurality of nozzle means in the wheel positioned between said flanges and spaced circumferentially around the wheel for applying coolant to form a layer travelling along the inner surface of the rim between said flanges.
 22. In a wheel and belt casting machine for casting molten metal apparatus comprising: a thin heat conducting rim on the wheel, mounting means for removably mounting said rim on the wheel, a plurality of nozzle means mounted in the wheel to revolve with the wheel and being positioned near the inner circumference of the rim, said nozzle means being spaced circumferentially about the wheel for applying coolant to the inner circumference of the rim traveling circumferentially along said inner circumference, coolant distribution system in the wheel for feeding liquid coolant under pressure to said nozzle means, a pair of spaced side mold members encircling said thin rim, a first lateral guide means engaging said side mold members for guiding them into position before the belt engages the wheel, second lateral guid means engaging said side mold members after the belt separates from the wheel, said second guide means being associated with a stripper positioned to engage the rim between said side mold members, said second lateral guide means and said stripper being adjustable about a shaft, and resilient means interconnecting said second guide means and said stripper for lightly urging said stripper toward said rim.
 23. In a wheel and belt casting machine for casting molten metal, apparatus comprising: a thin cylindrical rim encircling the wheel, mounting means for removably mounting said rim on the wheel, a pair of removable axially spaced side mold members encircling said rim, lateral guide means for guiding said side mold members as the wheel rotates, and coolant means for cooling the inner concave face of the rim.
 24. In the wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 7, the casting apparatus wherein: each of said removable side mold members is a segmented endless ring assembly formed by a multiplicity of closely fitting curved side mold blocks strung tightly on a looped metal strap or cable.
 25. In a metal casting machine for continuously Casting molten metal adjacent to a moving casting belt, apparatus in which: a plurality of coolant application and scoop means are used for applying and maintaining a coolant layer travelling along the back surface of a casting belt, said coolant application and scoop means include leading edges of the scoops spaced from the back surface of the casting belt a small distance for intercepting and deflecting a part of the high velocity coolant layer from the casting belt, said coolant application and scoop means are spaced away from the back surface of the casting belt a small distance for allowing the remaining coolant in the coolant layer to pass between said coolant application and scoop means and said back surface of the belt, and the portions of each of said coolant application and scoop means behind said leading edge and near said back surface of the belt converge toward said back surface of the belt in the direction of travel of the coolant for providing converging de-aeration channels between each of said coolant application and scoop means and said back surface of the belt for de-aeration of the coolant passing through said converging channels.
 26. In a metal casting machine for continuously casting molten metal adjacent to a moving casting belt, apparatus as claimed in claim 25, in which: said converging de-aeration channels converge toward the back surface of the belt from a spacing of approximately three-sixteenths of an inch to approximately three-thirty-seconds of an inch.
 27. In a wheel and belt casting machine as claimed in claim 21, the casting apparatus in which: a pair of wide skirt members are mounted on said respective flanges and extend around the wheel, said skirt members being located near the peripheries of said flanges and projecting in an axial direction from the respective flanges. 